In the frustrating rain-interrupted first game of the two-match Test series at Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo, the Caribbean openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul set a solid 336 runs partnership against the hosts to set a Test opening partnership record for West Indies.
The visiting captain Kraigg Brathwaite chose to bat first on the opening day of this Test match. While the first two days of this Test combinedly run to 89 overs, the openers added 112 runs and 109 runs respectively on the board without losing their wickets. On the second day, both the openers also completed their centuries.
On the third day, the opening partnership added another 115 runs as it reached 336 runs before the skipper Brathwaite was dismissed by Wellington Masakadza for 182 runs.
Some crucial stats of Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s 336 runs opening partnership in 114.1 overs.
West Indies’ Record Books
(Top records)
First 300 runs opening partnership in a Test innings for West Indies. Their previous highest Test opening partnership was 298 by Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes (vs England at St John’s in April 1990).
Highest partnership for any wickets in a Test innings for West Indies outside the Caribbean soil. Their previous record was 326 runs partnership for the third wicket (against Bangladesh at Khulna in November 2012).
(Other records)
It was the fifth-highest Test partnership for any Caribbean wicket.
It was the tenth 300+ partnership for any Caribbean wicket in a Test innings.
Check here Highest partnership for each wicket in Test cricket history
World Record Books
(Top records)
It was the second-highest Test partnership for any wicket in Zimbabwe. The record is 438 runs partnership for the second wicket between the Sri Lankan cricketers Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara (vs Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in May 2004).
While Brathwaite & Chanderpaul partnership faced 685 balls in the historic 336 runs opening partnership, it was the second longest Test opening partnership (by balls faced) since the ESPNcricinfo recorded the balls faced data. The record is facing 686 balls by Sri Lankan opening partners Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu (vs Pakistan at Kandy in June 2000).
(Other records)
It was the fourth 300+ Test opening partnership (also the third highest Test opening partnership) in Africa.
It was the ninth-highest Test opening partnership.
It was the 15th Test opening partnership with 300+ runs.
It was the seventh-highest Test opening partnership outside the home soil.
It was the 105th 300+ runs partnership for any wicket in a Test innings.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul 207* and West Indies 447/6 decl.
Playing only his third Test match and fifth Test innings, the 26-year-old Tagenarine Chanderpaul not only hit his maiden Test century, but he also continued that to the big score and completed his double-century in style. While his father, legendary Shivnarine Chanderpaul had his highest Test innings score of 203 not out, Tagenarine scored 207 not out off 467 balls (16 fours and three sixes) at the Caribbean team’s declaration on 447/6.
In reply, Zimbabwe finished the third day with a score of 114/3. Opener Innocent Kaia is still in the crease with 59 not out off 115 balls.
Also Read | Most Runs on day 1 in test cricket
